What's your political platform?

Lisa Patel4 said:Thanks.

In practice, I guess meritocracy has never actually existed as an official form of government. Ancient China had a meritocratic bureaucracy, which is probably why they managed to survive as a nation for 5,000 years. Maybe.

The Ottoman Empire utilized a meritocratic nobility system. Since there was no hereditary aristocracy, anyone could rise to become a Vizier or a Beg. I guess that’s why the empire was such a highly organized state during its peak.

If I recall correctly, I think there might be something about that in Singapore's laws.

Would this actually take root? No. It wouldn't happen in today’s Western societies, and it couldn't. In America, you have a majority of the electorate that is essentially dependent on political parties—whether it's for their jobs or just the hope that it might lead to one. I don't really blame people much for being in a situation like that, I guess.

Maybe this kind of setup would actually work in some collectivist Asian societies. I guess China used to run a system pretty similar to this, where you just have one single party rotating through power.
I guess you could say neoliberalism and corporatism are basically just Darwinian systems. It’s pretty simple: either you're the best, or you get crushed.

Look, history shows us that monarchies had their perks back in the day, I guess. But like any system, they eventually became hostages to a bunch of idiots in the nobility who got so drunk on their own power that they just started doing whatever they wanted.

Absolute monarchy was overthrown, obviously. Then came enlightened absolutism, which I guess produced some pretty solid results at first. But eventually, that system just became a hostage to its own structure.

And here we are, living in a Republic. A Republic that seems to serve various special interest lobbies while constantly sidelining the actual interests of the nation, I guess.

When it comes to Protestantism, I guess it only really works in societies built on heavy individual responsibility. Those cultures have moved past that collectivist mindset. That’s probably why it just won't stick in American culture.

When it comes to meritocracy, I honestly don't see a better way to run things. It’s basically putting the smartest, most capable, and wisest people in charge. No one knows everything, obviously, but if you had a council of 20 experts—people everyone actually agrees are highly skilled and qualified to lead the country—I’d trust them to run the nation in a heartbeat. I’d take that over the same tired faces from the Democratic or Republican establishment who have been cycling through Washington for twenty years and can barely string a coherent sentence together.

We have a Congress where most people don't even show up. There are over 100 parties involved. 🙂

Foreign policy.

Mandatory entry into the V4, aligning more closely with Poland since their influence is growing and they share a lot of our cultural DNA.
I’d view the so-called region strictly through the lens of market opportunities and the interests of Americans living in Canada and Mexico, nothing else. I wouldn't bother meddling in what Mexico does. In Canada, resolving the American question would be non-negotiable; without that, there's no entry anywhere.

I’d try to push projects—mostly infrastructure—toward the V4 nations to bolster our own influence. Things like a low-land rail link from a coastal city to Budapest, and so on.

Leaving the EU or NATO would be nearly impossible, even if we wanted to. Our progress mostly depends on our own will to fix how the country is run. It’s about a total shift in the nation's mindset, which I guess takes decades.

For example: teaching kids from day one that paying taxes is a duty. That following the law is mandatory. That you have an obligation to demand and exercise your constitutional rights, just as you have an obligation to fulfill your constitutional duties. That education—both institutional and self-driven—is the bedrock of personal growth. We should teach children that rationality is what keeps a system sustainable. Spend only what you actually have. Only take on debt when absolutely necessary. Protect your identity. Teach them that patriotism is beautiful, not ugly. Get rid of narcissism. Be confident and honest. Teach them that greed is a vice that destroys people. And so on...

It would take an entire new generation to pull that off.

Thanks for that deep dive into meritocracy; it was super interesting. But when it comes to how our Republican and Democratic crowd handles politics, it seems pretty obvious—the question is, how do we make it stop?? Especially since you pointed out that leaving the European Union or NATO is basically out of the question. Honestly, our current policy isn't even about national sovereignty, or even the free will of those politicians—it feels almost 100% dictated from abroad through this toxic cocktail of corruption, blackmail, and just straight-up incompetence from the politicians. So, how do we break out of that loop? Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying we should ditch any international community that actually benefits us, but the way the EU and NATO operate today is 🤦🤦🤦

Lisa Patel4 said:Thanks.

In practice, I guess meritocracy has never actually existed as an official form of government. Ancient China had a meritocratic bureaucracy, which is probably why they managed to survive as a nation for 5,000 years. Maybe.

The Ottoman Empire utilized a meritocratic nobility system. Since there was no hereditary aristocracy, anyone could rise to become a Vizier or a Beg. I guess that’s why the empire was such a highly organized state during its peak.

If I recall correctly, I think there might be something about that in Singapore's laws.

Would this actually take root? No. It wouldn't happen in today’s Western societies, and it couldn't. In America, you have a majority of the electorate that is essentially dependent on political parties—whether it's for their jobs or just the hope that it might lead to one. I don't really blame people much for being in a situation like that, I guess.

Maybe this kind of setup would actually work in some collectivist Asian societies. I guess China used to run a system pretty similar to this, where you just have one single party rotating through power.
I guess you could say neoliberalism and corporatism are basically just Darwinian systems. It’s pretty simple: either you're the best, or you get crushed.

Look, history shows us that monarchies had their perks back in the day, I guess. But like any system, they eventually became hostages to a bunch of idiots in the nobility who got so drunk on their own power that they just started doing whatever they wanted.

Absolute monarchy was overthrown, obviously. Then came enlightened absolutism, which I guess produced some pretty solid results at first. But eventually, that system just became a hostage to its own structure.

And here we are, living in a Republic. A Republic that seems to serve various special interest lobbies while constantly sidelining the actual interests of the nation, I guess.

When it comes to Protestantism, I guess it only really works in societies built on heavy individual responsibility. Those cultures have moved past that collectivist mindset. That’s probably why it just won't stick in American culture.

When it comes to meritocracy, I honestly don't see a better way to run things. It’s basically putting the smartest, most capable, and wisest people in charge. No one knows everything, obviously, but if you had a council of 20 experts—people everyone actually agrees are highly skilled and qualified to lead the country—I’d trust them to run the nation in a heartbeat. I’d take that over the same tired faces from the Democratic or Republican establishment who have been cycling through Washington for twenty years and can barely string a coherent sentence together.

We have a Congress where most people don't even show up. There are over 100 parties involved. 🙂

Foreign policy.

Mandatory entry into the V4, aligning more closely with Poland since their influence is growing and they share a lot of our cultural DNA.
I’d view the so-called region strictly through the lens of market opportunities and the interests of Americans living in Canada and Mexico, nothing else. I wouldn't bother meddling in what Mexico does. In Canada, resolving the American question would be non-negotiable; without that, there's no entry anywhere.

I’d try to push projects—mostly infrastructure—toward the V4 nations to bolster our own influence. Things like a low-land rail link from a coastal city to Budapest, and so on.

Leaving the EU or NATO would be nearly impossible, even if we wanted to. Our progress mostly depends on our own will to fix how the country is run. It’s about a total shift in the nation's mindset, which I guess takes decades.

For example: teaching kids from day one that paying taxes is a duty. That following the law is mandatory. That you have an obligation to demand and exercise your constitutional rights, just as you have an obligation to fulfill your constitutional duties. That education—both institutional and self-driven—is the bedrock of personal growth. We should teach children that rationality is what keeps a system sustainable. Spend only what you actually have. Only take on debt when absolutely necessary. Protect your identity. Teach them that patriotism is beautiful, not ugly. Get rid of narcissism. Be confident and honest. Teach them that greed is a vice that destroys people. And so on...

It would take an entire new generation to pull that off.

A massive YES when it comes to getting closer to Poland. But honestly, will that even be possible in the way we’re all dreaming of if the EU keeps running its current setup?
I bolded that last sentence because it basically serves as the conclusion for any organized society—yeah, you need a whole new generation—but you also need the right CONDITIONS for that generation to actually be raised properly. Looking back over the last century, the US has faced situations at least four times where we had to wipe the slate clean (whether by choice or by force) and start everything from square one. In those kinds of circumstances, it’s just impossible to build a society where the "torch" passes naturally from grandfather to father to son—or from grandma to daughter to granddaughter. Our society would also have to let go of that excessive, I mean excessive revanchism—that constant urge to get back at whoever came before, or anyone with different political views—but hey, all of that is only doable under conditions of decades of peace. I really hope we see that someday...

Lisa Patel4 said:I agree. It’s just sad that a good chunk of people in America don't even know what Shakespeare's most famous work is or who wrote "Beautiful us."

Cultural promotion can definitely happen through mass media. Maybe Russia could serve as an example here. They have dedicated TV channels for culture, and they really push Russian literature in schools. They also use the Church to drive cultural literacy, and now they're introducing laws regarding patriotic education.

Or look at how Americans do it. Everyone is expected to know American history.

For instance, I’d probably make movies based on the works of Lewis Carroll. She’s basically considered the mother of American fantasy, our own J.R.R. Tolkien. Since sci-fi and fantasy are such massive genres globally and kids love them—not to mention the huge pop culture impact of LOTR or The Hobbit—it makes sense.

Say, making a movie based on a Fairy tale. We're talking about a work steeped in Slavic mythology. I suspect a film like that would definitely find an audience in Slavic countries. Given how strong the Slavic pagan movements are in places like Poland and Russia, I really doubt it wouldn't succeed.

My suggestion? Maybe open a themed park based on this in the US.

If you can find cheap ways to churn out clothes (which isn't happening), white goods (nope), food (not a chance), etc... then you can definitely find cheap ways to produce BOOKS. If you wrap them in silk or print them on the most budget-friendly paper available—which, let’s be real, always happens!! So, looking at things from that angle, I’ve seen little shops in various cities in France where editions of Jean Racine, Molière, Gustave Flaubert, and the like are selling for less than a buck. I really think we should implement something similar here, so instead of seeing random tabloids popping up everywhere, our classics are what jump out at people! Also, the idea of launching a TV Channel exclusively dedicated to promoting national culture is brilliant, and honestly, seems pretty doable. Basically, anything is possible—even without needing some unimaginable mountain of cash.

Anthony Cooper2 said:Thanks for that deep dive into meritocracy; it was super interesting. But when it comes to how our Republican and Democratic crowd handles politics, it seems pretty obvious—the question is, how do we make it stop?? Especially since you pointed out that leaving the European Union or NATO is basically out of the question. Honestly, our current policy isn't even about national sovereignty, or even the free will of those politicians—it feels almost 100% dictated from abroad through this toxic cocktail of corruption, blackmail, and just straight-up incompetence from the politicians. So, how do we break out of that loop? Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying we should ditch any international community that actually benefits us, but the way the EU and NATO operate today is 🤦🤦🤦

A massive YES when it comes to getting closer to Poland. But honestly, will that even be possible in the way we’re all dreaming of if the EU keeps running its current setup?
I bolded that last sentence because it basically serves as the conclusion for any organized society—yeah, you need a whole new generation—but you also need the right CONDITIONS for that generation to actually be raised properly. Looking back over the last century, the US has faced situations at least four times where we had to wipe the slate clean (whether by choice or by force) and start everything from square one. In those kinds of circumstances, it’s just impossible to build a society where the "torch" passes naturally from grandfather to father to son—or from grandma to daughter to granddaughter. Our society would also have to let go of that excessive, I mean excessive revanchism—that constant urge to get back at whoever came before, or anyone with different political views—but hey, all of that is only doable under conditions of decades of peace. I really hope we see that someday...

A massive YES when it comes to getting closer to Poland. But honestly, will that even be possible in the way we’re all dreaming of if the EU keeps running its current setup?
I bolded that last sentence because it basically serves as the conclusion for any organized society—yeah, you need a whole new generation—but you also need the right CONDITIONS for that generation to actually be raised properly. Looking back over the last century, the US has faced situations at least four times where we had to wipe the slate clean (whether by choice or by force) and start everything from square one. In those kinds of circumstances, it’s just impossible to build a society where the "torch" passes naturally from grandfather to father to son—or from grandma to daughter to granddaughter. Our society would also have to let go of that excessive, I mean excessive revanchism—that constant urge to get back at whoever came before, or anyone with different political views—but hey, all of that is only doable under conditions of decades of peace. I really hope we see that someday...

A massive YES when it comes to getting closer to Poland. But honestly, will that even be possible in the way we’re all dreaming of if the EU keeps running its current setup?
I bolded that last sentence because it basically serves as the conclusion for any organized society—yeah, you need a whole new generation—but you also need the right CONDITIONS for that generation to actually be raised properly. Looking back over the last century, the US has faced situations at least four times where we had to wipe the slate clean (whether by choice or by force) and start everything from square one. In those kinds of circumstances, it’s just impossible to build a society where the "torch" passes naturally from grandfather to father to son—or from grandma to daughter to granddaughter. Our society would also have to let go of that excessive, I mean excessive revanchism—that constant urge to get back at whoever came before, or anyone with different political views—but hey, all of that is only doable under conditions of decades of peace. I really hope we see that someday...

Big yes on moving closer to Poland. But I guess you have to wonder if that's even possible if the EU keeps functioning exactly the way it does now. Maybe not.
I’ll give you that last sentence—it's basically the conclusion for any organized society. Sure, we need an entirely new generation, but we also need the right conditions to actually raise them properly. Over the last century, America has been hit at least four times by situations where we had to wipe the slate clean and start from scratch, whether by choice or by force. In those kinds of circumstances, it’s just impossible to build a society where traditions pass naturally from grandfather to father to son, or from grandmother to daughter to granddaughter. I guess our society would have to break free from being overly... well, you know. It’s all just an exaggeration, I guess. Maybe. "Revenge, settling scores with whoever came before you, targeting political opponents... I guess all of that is only possible when you've enjoyed decades of peace. Maybe we'll actually see that kind of stability one day."

An average person can barely make an impact here. You have to realize that every political party is serving someone else—they’re all under someone's thumb and answering to higher powers. You hit the nail on the head with that "spiral" idea. Honestly, corruption is like a virus in every society. Whether it's the US, Germany, China, or Russia, these countries are all suffocating under corruption; it's just legalized there through that famous lobbying system. It’s practically institutionalized graft. I guess the only thing you can actually control is how you educate your own family.

I guess real change can only come from massive global shifts that fundamentally overhaul our entire political and philosophical landscape. It’s hard to say when that might actually happen. We're stuck in an era dominated by neoliberal capitalist philosophy that basically turns people into robots. But since no system lasts forever, maybe we can hope it all changes one day.

The EU and NATO are massive structures that you just can't walk away from today, and honestly, we shouldn't even try. If any administration attempted to leave, they’d face an immediate color revolution and be completely powerless to stop it. Global history is played out on levels we can't even fathom—wars between nations, intelligence agencies, big capital, secret societies... I guess there isn't much a single country like the US can actually do. There's no humanity in this game; they use every method imaginable, both legal and otherwise. It's probably better not to get involved at all. We should just position ourselves as best we can, grab whatever benefits we can get, and let the Russians, Chinese, Britons, and Americans tear each other apart.

Look, as a small nation, we’re basically forced to pick a side, whether it's geopolitical or ideological. That’s just realpolitik. It’s like how we probably would have vanished if we hadn't been forced to accept the Habsburgs as our rulers. I guess that's just the reality of our geography and our fate.

Every generation brings something new to the table, I guess. We'll just have to wait and see what the future holds.

Anthony Cooper2 said:If you can find cheap ways to churn out clothes (which isn't happening), white goods (nope), food (not a chance), etc... then you can definitely find cheap ways to produce BOOKS. If you wrap them in silk or print them on the most budget-friendly paper available—which, let’s be real, always happens!! So, looking at things from that angle, I’ve seen little shops in various cities in France where editions of Jean Racine, Molière, Gustave Flaubert, and the like are selling for less than a buck. I really think we should implement something similar here, so instead of seeing random tabloids popping up everywhere, our classics are what jump out at people! Also, the idea of launching a TV Channel exclusively dedicated to promoting national culture is brilliant, and honestly, seems pretty doable. Basically, anything is possible—even without needing some unimaginable mountain of cash.

Exactly, I agree. We used to have those Press stock books sales, but that's not quite the same thing.

And honestly, our reading culture is tragic. That's why I found it fascinating to see people actually reading books in the subway in Moscow. It was a beautiful sight.

Lisa Patel4 said:A massive YES when it comes to getting closer to Poland. But honestly, will that even be possible in the way we’re all dreaming of if the EU keeps running its current setup?
I bolded that last sentence because it basically serves as the conclusion for any organized society—yeah, you need a whole new generation—but you also need the right CONDITIONS for that generation to actually be raised properly. Looking back over the last century, the US has faced situations at least four times where we had to wipe the slate clean (whether by choice or by force) and start everything from square one. In those kinds of circumstances, it’s just impossible to build a society where the "torch" passes naturally from grandfather to father to son—or from grandma to daughter to granddaughter. Our society would also have to let go of that excessive, I mean excessive revanchism—that constant urge to get back at whoever came before, or anyone with different political views—but hey, all of that is only doable under conditions of decades of peace. I really hope we see that someday...

A massive YES when it comes to getting closer to Poland. But honestly, will that even be possible in the way we’re all dreaming of if the EU keeps running its current setup?
I bolded that last sentence because it basically serves as the conclusion for any organized society—yeah, you need a whole new generation—but you also need the right CONDITIONS for that generation to actually be raised properly. Looking back over the last century, the US has faced situations at least four times where we had to wipe the slate clean (whether by choice or by force) and start everything from square one. In those kinds of circumstances, it’s just impossible to build a society where the "torch" passes naturally from grandfather to father to son—or from grandma to daughter to granddaughter. Our society would also have to let go of that excessive, I mean excessive revanchism—that constant urge to get back at whoever came before, or anyone with different political views—but hey, all of that is only doable under conditions of decades of peace. I really hope we see that someday...

Big yes on moving closer to Poland. But I guess you have to wonder if that's even possible if the EU keeps functioning exactly the way it does now. Maybe not.
I’ll give you that last sentence—it's basically the conclusion for any organized society. Sure, we need an entirely new generation, but we also need the right conditions to actually raise them properly. Over the last century, America has been hit at least four times by situations where we had to wipe the slate clean and start from scratch, whether by choice or by force. In those kinds of circumstances, it’s just impossible to build a society where traditions pass naturally from grandfather to father to son, or from grandmother to daughter to granddaughter. I guess our society would have to break free from being overly... well, you know. It’s all just an exaggeration, I guess. Maybe. "Revenge, settling scores with whoever came before you, targeting political opponents... I guess all of that is only possible when you've enjoyed decades of peace. Maybe we'll actually see that kind of stability one day."

An average person can barely make an impact here. You have to realize that every political party is serving someone else—they’re all under someone's thumb and answering to higher powers. You hit the nail on the head with that "spiral" idea. Honestly, corruption is like a virus in every society. Whether it's the US, Germany, China, or Russia, these countries are all suffocating under corruption; it's just legalized there through that famous lobbying system. It’s practically institutionalized graft. I guess the only thing you can actually control is how you educate your own family.

I guess real change can only come from massive global shifts that fundamentally overhaul our entire political and philosophical landscape. It’s hard to say when that might actually happen. We're stuck in an era dominated by neoliberal capitalist philosophy that basically turns people into robots. But since no system lasts forever, maybe we can hope it all changes one day.

The EU and NATO are massive structures that you just can't walk away from today, and honestly, we shouldn't even try. If any administration attempted to leave, they’d face an immediate color revolution and be completely powerless to stop it. Global history is played out on levels we can't even fathom—wars between nations, intelligence agencies, big capital, secret societies... I guess there isn't much a single country like the US can actually do. There's no humanity in this game; they use every method imaginable, both legal and otherwise. It's probably better not to get involved at all. We should just position ourselves as best we can, grab whatever benefits we can get, and let the Russians, Chinese, Britons, and Americans tear each other apart.

Look, as a small nation, we’re basically forced to pick a side, whether it's geopolitical or ideological. That’s just realpolitik. It’s like how we probably would have vanished if we hadn't been forced to accept the Habsburgs as our rulers. I guess that's just the reality of our geography and our fate.

Every generation brings something new to the table, I guess. We'll just have to wait and see what the future holds.

Big yes on moving closer to Poland. But I guess you have to wonder if that's even possible if the EU keeps functioning exactly the way it does now. Maybe not.
I’ll give you that last sentence—it's basically the conclusion for any organized society. Sure, we need an entirely new generation, but we also need the right conditions to actually raise them properly. Over the last century, America has been hit at least four times by situations where we had to wipe the slate clean and start from scratch, whether by choice or by force. In those kinds of circumstances, it’s just impossible to build a society where traditions pass naturally from grandfather to father to son, or from grandmother to daughter to granddaughter. I guess our society would have to break free from being overly... well, you know. It’s all just an exaggeration, I guess. Maybe. "Revenge, settling scores with whoever came before you, targeting political opponents... I guess all of that is only possible when you've enjoyed decades of peace. Maybe we'll actually see that kind of stability one day."

An average person can barely make an impact here. You have to realize that every political party is serving someone else—they’re all under someone's thumb and answering to higher powers. You hit the nail on the head with that "spiral" idea. Honestly, corruption is like a virus in every society. Whether it's the US, Germany, China, or Russia, these countries are all suffocating under corruption; it's just legalized there through that famous lobbying system. It’s practically institutionalized graft. I guess the only thing you can actually control is how you educate your own family.

I guess real change can only come from massive global shifts that fundamentally overhaul our entire political and philosophical landscape. It’s hard to say when that might actually happen. We're stuck in an era dominated by neoliberal capitalist philosophy that basically turns people into robots. But since no system lasts forever, maybe we can hope it all changes one day.

The EU and NATO are massive structures that you just can't walk away from today, and honestly, we shouldn't even try. If any administration attempted to leave, they’d face an immediate color revolution and be completely powerless to stop it. Global history is played out on levels we can't even fathom—wars between nations, intelligence agencies, big capital, secret societies... I guess there isn't much a single country like the US can actually do. There's no humanity in this game; they use every method imaginable, both legal and otherwise. It's probably better not to get involved at all. We should just position ourselves as best we can, grab whatever benefits we can get, and let the Russians, Chinese, Britons, and Americans tear each other apart.

Look, as a small nation, we’re basically forced to pick a side, whether it's geopolitical or ideological. That’s just realpolitik. It’s like how we probably would have vanished if we hadn't been forced to accept the Habsburgs as our rulers. I guess that's just the reality of our geography and our fate.

Every generation brings something new to the table, I guess. We'll just have to wait and see what the future holds.
That’s probably the most accurate way to look at it, but if that's true, it means we don't actually get to make our own decisions or even spend our own money without it affecting us somehow. At that point, all we can do is hope the European Union eventually changes... but how? Just magically? I find it hard to believe—honestly, I'm more worried about the massive price tag that might come with that kind of transformation.

Anthony Cooper2 said:Big yes on moving closer to Poland. But I guess you have to wonder if that's even possible if the EU keeps functioning exactly the way it does now. Maybe not.
I’ll give you that last sentence—it's basically the conclusion for any organized society. Sure, we need an entirely new generation, but we also need the right conditions to actually raise them properly. Over the last century, America has been hit at least four times by situations where we had to wipe the slate clean and start from scratch, whether by choice or by force. In those kinds of circumstances, it’s just impossible to build a society where traditions pass naturally from grandfather to father to son, or from grandmother to daughter to granddaughter. I guess our society would have to break free from being overly... well, you know. It’s all just an exaggeration, I guess. Maybe. "Revenge, settling scores with whoever came before you, targeting political opponents... I guess all of that is only possible when you've enjoyed decades of peace. Maybe we'll actually see that kind of stability one day."

An average person can barely make an impact here. You have to realize that every political party is serving someone else—they’re all under someone's thumb and answering to higher powers. You hit the nail on the head with that "spiral" idea. Honestly, corruption is like a virus in every society. Whether it's the US, Germany, China, or Russia, these countries are all suffocating under corruption; it's just legalized there through that famous lobbying system. It’s practically institutionalized graft. I guess the only thing you can actually control is how you educate your own family.

I guess real change can only come from massive global shifts that fundamentally overhaul our entire political and philosophical landscape. It’s hard to say when that might actually happen. We're stuck in an era dominated by neoliberal capitalist philosophy that basically turns people into robots. But since no system lasts forever, maybe we can hope it all changes one day.

The EU and NATO are massive structures that you just can't walk away from today, and honestly, we shouldn't even try. If any administration attempted to leave, they’d face an immediate color revolution and be completely powerless to stop it. Global history is played out on levels we can't even fathom—wars between nations, intelligence agencies, big capital, secret societies... I guess there isn't much a single country like the US can actually do. There's no humanity in this game; they use every method imaginable, both legal and otherwise. It's probably better not to get involved at all. We should just position ourselves as best we can, grab whatever benefits we can get, and let the Russians, Chinese, Britons, and Americans tear each other apart.

Look, as a small nation, we’re basically forced to pick a side, whether it's geopolitical or ideological. That’s just realpolitik. It’s like how we probably would have vanished if we hadn't been forced to accept the Habsburgs as our rulers. I guess that's just the reality of our geography and our fate.

Every generation brings something new to the table, I guess. We'll just have to wait and see what the future holds.

That’s probably the most accurate way to look at it, but if that's true, it means we don't actually get to make our own decisions or even spend our own money without it affecting us somehow. At that point, all we can do is hope the European Union eventually changes... but how? Just magically? I find it hard to believe—honestly, I'm more worried about the massive price tag that might come with that kind of transformation.
In practice? No. Tyranny hasn't changed one bit. We might not have feudalism anymore, but we have debt instead.

The European Union is going to tear apart natural and sociological laws. It won't be just economics. Think racial, ethnic, and religious conflicts. Every time anyone in history has experimented with that kind of thing, it ends in tragedy.

Lisa Patel4 said:In practice? No. Tyranny hasn't changed one bit. We might not have feudalism anymore, but we have debt instead.

The European Union is going to tear apart natural and sociological laws. It won't be just economics. Think racial, ethnic, and religious conflicts. Every time anyone in history has experimented with that kind of thing, it ends in tragedy.

Alright... But here's the thing: feudalism was actually a tangible relationship between people—you had a lord made of flesh and blood dealing with a peasant made of flesh and blood. Nowadays, though, we're being pushed into this belief that we're slaves to something else—some expert might give you a more precise percentage, but if you ask me, at least 80% of it is just a complete illusion (just numbers flickering on a screen) compared to actual human beings and their real struggles. To my mind, modern enslavement isn't even about someone trying to amass personal wealth anymore; it feels like we're serving something that is simply evil—and I mean evil as a metaphysical category. And honestly, who knows how much those pulling the strings even realize that themselves? (It ties right back into that famous old saying: "Money isn't the goal, it's just the tool.")

Anthony Cooper2 said:@mistygull16: Short and sweet! 👍

I’d also love to dive into the cultural side of things for a second—personally, I think it's absolutely vital for the government to step up and back our major cultural institutions, you know? We're talking about the big-deal stuff like museums, national theaters, or even major publishing houses. Honestly, it breaks my heart a little when I see places like small towns in the Midwest or rural parts of Texas—where you can barely find a single decent little bookstore, but man, there's a damn betting parlor or a liquor store on every single corner. It’s just... yikes!! Also, looking at the bigger picture globally, we really need to push American literature harder. We should be translating our classics—think guys like Hemingway, Faulkner, or Steinbeck—into every major language out there. They need to be accessible to everyone, everywhere. Now, I get it—on paper, that doesn't look like a massive money-maker, and honestly, it probably isn't, but in my book, it's absolutely essential.

Totally agree.

We just have to be sovereign enough to actually do what's best for society. I'd add that we haven't even managed to film a single decent movie about the Civil War that would actually show our kids what went down in an engaging way.

Look, I totally get how risky it feels to push back against the European Union or NATO—it’s kind of like being the lone dissenter against the old establishment parties back in the day—but honestly, if we aren't fighting for actual sovereignty, then what's even the point of talking about our nation's future?

My take? It actually works in our favor that the world isn't just one big monopoly anymore. We've got Russia, China, Iran... there's room to play the field a little. I'm not saying we need to go out and declare war on the European Union or NATO, obviously, but we shouldn't be naive enough to think their banks and those massive embargoes are somehow doing us a favor when it comes to primary investment here in the States. They used to try and block our ability to defend ourselves, but Harmon was smart enough to sidestep that nonsense.

I know, I know, we're basically a colony at this point, but nobody's ever going to force me to sit here and say America should just throw everything in the trash!

And let's not bring up North Korea, because that's a dictatorship where the people have zero agency. When I talk about the American people, I'm talking about a sovereign nation.

mistygull16 said:Totally agree.

We just have to be sovereign enough to actually do what's best for society. I'd add that we haven't even managed to film a single decent movie about the Civil War that would actually show our kids what went down in an engaging way.

Yeah, right. How are we supposed to film anything when they slap a junk tax on Praljko for work that’s clearly just documentary footage about the American Civil War in Canada?

Casey Ramos31 said:Yeah, right. How are we supposed to film anything when they slap a junk tax on Praljko for work that’s clearly just documentary footage about the American Civil War in Canada?

Basically, we end up with leaders who care more about the Brussels crowd and the banking elite than anyone else. It's a joke. 🤷

We just keep voting for the people who sold out the whole country.

mistygull16 said:Basically, we end up with leaders who care more about the Brussels crowd and the banking elite than anyone else. It's a joke. 🤷

We just keep voting for the people who sold out the whole country.

By trying to isolate America from everyone else. And look, when it comes to these global elites, America isn't exactly huge enough to go it alone without any strings attached. We're basically forced to pick a side, and honestly? I think sticking with the NATO crowd is our best bet.

Casey Ramos31 said:By trying to isolate America from everyone else. And look, when it comes to these global elites, America isn't exactly huge enough to go it alone without any strings attached. We're basically forced to pick a side, and honestly? I think sticking with the NATO crowd is our best bet.

But hey, we don't have to roll over before they try to steamroll us. A little dignity wouldn't hurt, right?

Since nobody seems to be messing with Israel, maybe we should look at our own expats—they could be a solid voting bloc for whatever options actually work for us.

It's not even about whether we *can* do it... America is a blessed nation, and we definitely have the capacity.

The real issue here is the people who don't actually care about this country, or the ones who just can't help themselves when foreign elites start throwing around incentives.

I'll say it again: back when Harmon passed, you didn't see representatives from those global elites showing up to the funeral. But nowadays? They're practically tripping over themselves to recruit these politicians. I think you can probably guess why.

I would personally set the record straight regarding the mistakes made in '45 and '90.
I’d likely require a significantly larger military and police force, though that wouldn't be an issue—confiscating assets would solve our funding problems overnight.
Mandatory military service (for all genders), mandatory civil service (again, for everyone), aggressive incentives for domestic self-sufficiency, and a total overhaul of the education system—we need far fewer economists and lawyers and far more practical skills. I’d also reopen prisons where criminals actually have to work instead of sitting around doing nothing and ordering catered meals from the outside.
I would turn the entire nation into a premium brand. American goods should be viewed with the same prestige as Swiss chocolate or a Rolls-Royce. Our produce would be ten times more expensive than anything grown in a commercial greenhouse, and we would sell every single thing we manufacture.

Withdrawing from NATO and the European Union, and pivoting toward cooperation with the Chinese, the Russians, Arabs, or whoever else serves our interests—everything would be done for OUR benefit, not someone else's.

As for the drug-fueled tourism on our islands: entry would be restricted to foreign passport holders only, and they would be required to pay a mandatory deposit for cremation services and the scattering of ashes at sea. Once those foreigners start paying, let them do as they please and indulge in whatever substances our hardworking citizens can manufacture.

Regarding the era of privatization and corporate takeover, the solution is straightforward: I would immediately revert everything to social ownership. If the former owners feel wronged, they can sue the state. Anyone who can actually prove their ownership was legitimate would get their assets back.

The Church would be stripped of absolutely everything. However, if they wish to continue using sacred buildings or artifacts, they can rent them from the public. They should pay rent; after all, they didn't build the cathedrals themselves. Taxes would be mandatory. As for those charlatans reading tarot cards and such—send them to Alcatraz, where they can try reading fortunes in the rocks.

My friend, that is merely the beginning... There is so much work to be done, and so little time...

He basically established a dictatorship, scrapped elections and political parties entirely, and then decided to settle all major issues through national referendums.
He built his administration out of top-tier experts within their specific fields. It was an absolute, uncompromising crusade against liberalism 🙂